The Divi Neguma Draft Bill, which was forwarded for Provincial Council approval under a Supreme Court directive, was today passed in the Western provincial Council with 40 majority votes.

A total of 64 councillors voted in favor of the draft bill, which was presented at the Provincial Council meeting today while 24 members voted against it.

The government was looking to set up a Divi Neguma Department under the bill, which will take over the existing Samurdhi Authority, the Southern Development Authority and the Upcountry Development Authority.